"I dream — and the dream has come true — of multitudes of God’s children, sanctifying themselves as ordinary citizens, sharing the ambitions and endeavours of their colleagues and friends.”
(Saint Josemaría)

80 doctors and medical students and 30 dentists and dental students provided services to 2,000 family beneficiaries.

Anyone can reach out to those living on the outermost fringes of society and perform the corporal works of mercy.

In response to Pope Francis’ message for the Second World Day of the Poor and to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference (CBCP) of the Philippines’
celebration of the Year of the Youth, young professionals, teachers,
students, and families held a social outreach activity in the district of Tondo (Manila) on November 18.

Moving encounters

“I realized that despite the hardships that these people encounter
daily, they still have the heart to help others. This made me think, ‘We
have much more than what they have. What can I do for others? How can I
help?’” said outreach volunteer Keziah Duag, a human resources
practitioner.

She narrated her encounter with a 62-year old
male beneficiary, his 80-year old mother, and their “neighbor-in-need.” Duag discovered that the man retired from his work as a cruise-ship
chef and returned home to take care of his mother and to serve in their
community and parish.

“The man misses his travels and luxuries, but
these were nothing compared to what he could do to help his family and
community,” Duag said.

The lady neighbor he brought for medical and psychiatric consultation had been physically and emotionally abused by the people she was living with. That day was a rare opportunity when she talked to a doctor about her ailments.

Dubbed the “Pakikipagkapwa – 2nd World Day of the Poor Tondo Outreach
Initiative: A Grace-filled Opportunity,” the project gathered more than
200 volunteers, with two medical and dental teams composed of 80
doctors and medical students and 30 dentists and dental students, to
provide services to 2,000 family beneficiaries.

Family members also participated in catechism classes, story-telling for kids, “boy-girl relationship” talks
for teens, and health and oral hygiene instructions for
parents, while waiting their turn to receive medical and dental attention.

Initiative of laity

The Tondo Outreach Initiative is spearheaded by Family Cooperation
Health Services Foundation, Inc. (FAMCOHSEF), a non-profit organization
founded in 1991 by professionals from various backgrounds and expertise
in response to a challenge posed to them by Blessed Alvaro del Portillo,
who at the time was the Prelate of Opus Dei: “What are you doing for
the poor?”

Pope Francis established the World Day of the Poor through his
apostolic letter, “Misericordia et Misera,” issued Nov. 20, 2016, at the
closing of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. It has been observed
since 2017 on the 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time.

The theme for this year’s World Day of the Poor is “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him” (Ps 34:6).

In his message the Holy Father told the faithful that these words of
the Psalmist should “become our own whenever we are called to encounter
the different conditions of suffering and marginalization experienced by
so many of our brothers and sisters whom we are accustomed to label
generically as ‘the poor’.”